Partnership for Evaluation, Research, and Implementation (PERI)

We recently concluded our first round of projects and worked with some wonderful local agencies, and selected six agencies we will serve in our second round. Information coming soon about these agencies and what our work will entail!

Introduced in November 2015 to a gathering of more than two dozen Cleveland-area social service administrators and leaders, PERI is designed as a high-quality, low-cost program evaluation resource center for nonprofit organizations seeking information and expertise on program outcomes, quality improvement, and program implementation.

PERI partners with nonprofit and governmental agencies in Cuyahoga County working in the health and human services sector, particularly those that work with children and/or families.

Founded by Research Associate Professor Jeff Kretschmar, PhD, and Patrick Kanary, Begun Center Advisory Board Member and former Director of the Center for Innovative Practices, PERI will assist community-based behavioral health agencies, juvenile courts and other nonprofits demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs and services, measure success, and ultimately increase the likelihood of future program funding.

Through financial support provided to PERI from The George Gund Foundation, St. Luke’s Foundation and the O’Neill Foundation, agencies can apply for PERI services and are responsible for only a portion of the total project cost. PERI’s funding model is designed to address the reality that many nonprofit organizations are unable to pay current market rates for consultation, evaluation and/or implementation services. Agencies are responsible for only a fraction of the overall project costs, with the remainder supported by the Begun Center and participating Foundations.

PERI provides services via a team of expert evaluators and program implementation specialists led by Jeff Kretschmar, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor and Managing Director of the Begun Center.